Website of the Department of Health

The treatment:

This treatment is currently carried out by beauty therapists.

Micropigmentation is a non-surgical procedure very similar to tattooing. The beauty therapist will use a very fine needle to place pigment into the skin at a very high speed via a small hand-held electrical device. The needles penetrate the skin a few millimetres deep. The new pigment or colour is deposited in the dermal layer of the skin, just below the surface.

The results:

Micropigmentation leaves a semi-permanent pigmentation in the area treated. This can either cover up scars, blemishes or hair loss; or be used to mimic the appearance of make-up. The treatment will fade over time as new skin grows, so the treatment will have to be repeated every 3-4 years.

The risks:

Some people find they are allergic to semi-permanent cosmetics. A skin test in a concealed area before treatment could be advisable, to see how the skin responds.

If the needle is inserted too deeply into the skin you may get bleeding, spreading of the pigmentation or hair damage. This can be permanent and can lead to scarring.

Before you start:

Micropigmentation is very similar to a tattoo, so it is important you are sure about the treatment before you have it. The effect may fade over several years, but it will not disappear completely.